Week Five

13 March 2006 21:45pm

This season has been disappointing for England, but never more so than on Sunday.

The way the French played and the final scoreline magnified England's flaws. We knew the problems were there, but a lot of people skimmed over them or forgot about them, and the France game brought home how inadequate England have been all season.

I saw no semblance of a gameplan and you have to ask yourself whether that is down to the coaches or the players failing to carry out their instructions.

France played more like England than England did! They put England under pressure, made them concede an early score and before you know it, it's 16-0 and nearly game over.

Some people have been questioning Martin Corry's ability, but I thought he was fantastic. He came onto the ball at pace, took out defenders and his workrate was huge. He hasn't let England down over the couple of years he has been in the set-up.

And if England are looking to play a territory-based game, there were some promising signs for Andy Goode.

He put in some great 60-metre kicks, but we didn't chase them up well, so France were able to throw the ball to themselves and clear it back to the half-way line, instead of having a line-out in their own 22.

There weren't too many other positives to take. Once again I have to question Andy Robinson's use of substitutes. Against Scotland, he put them on too late; this time they all came on at once, so there was no continuity to the game.

I think England's chances of winning the tournament are over. Mathematically, it's a big ask, as France would have to lose heavily to Wales, which I don't think will happen, and England would have to beat Ireland convincingly as well.

England need to find a way to reignite themselves before the visit of what will be a very pumped-up and confident Irish team.

Twickenham does not hold that many fears for Ireland, as two years ago they soundly beat England there - and many of the players from that game are still in their team.

Ireland will be looking for a win - if not for the championship itself, then for the Triple Crown. Either way, they'll be champing at the bit.

I would never normally bet against England at Twickenham, but you are only as good as your last game and, after Sunday's performance, England could lose.